DOVER, Del. (AP) - Attorneys for a young woman who claims in a lawsuit that she was sexually abused by former Sussex County councilman Vance Phillips are asking a judge to find Phillips liable because he has not explicitly denied the allegations.

Citing his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination, Phillips has refused to address the allegations by the 21-year-old woman, who was once his political protege.

Her attorneys argued Monday that the judge should rule in her favor regarding liability because Phillips has not disputed the allegations.

The recent decision by two members of the Sussex County Council not to provide a grant of $100 each to a youth program by the NAACP has caused an uproar. Council members Sam Wilson and Vance Phillips decided not to provide the grant because the organization's name included the phrase for the advancement of colored people, which they felt was discriminatory. Delmarva Public Radio's Don Rush spoke with Richard Smith, president of the state NAACP, who said after he appeared before the council this week to protest the vote Phillips did reach out to him in an email.

Supporters of the NAACP blasted two members of the Sussex County Council yesterday when they withheld a $100 grant each for the civil rights organization calling it’s a discriminatory group.

Council member Sam Wilson took offense at the phrase colored people in the organization’s name and he was joined by fellow council member Vance Phillips.

Jane Hovington, president of the local NAACP chapter whose grant was turned down told the council members they owned the renowned organization an apology not just to the civil rights group but the people of Sussex County.

With a recent federal court decisions to allow the recitation of Christian prayer by clergy at local government meetings some on the Sussex County Council want to bring back the offering of the Lord’s Prayer.

Under a settlement agreement the County Council agreed to end the practice and merely recite the less sectarian 23rd Psalm.

During a 25-minute discussion yesterday Council member Sam Wilson urged his fellow council members to move back to the practice.

The NAACP Youth Council will not be getting $100 grants each from Sussex County Council members Vance Phillips and Sam Wilson because they object to word colored people in the name of the civil rights organization.

Wilson told the county finance director to take his name off when it came to providing the grant to the NAACP Youth council asking someone to tell him what the letters NAACP stand for.

When told Council member Vance Phillips joined Wilson who added that sounded like discrimination to him.

There will be no public disclosure of medical or financial documents in the sexual assault case brought against Sussex County Council member Vance Phillips by Katelynn Dunlap who is seeking unspecified damages.

The judge in the case has ordered her attorneys to keep those confidential including one that shows he was a crime victim.